The Arkansaw traveler., 1887-11-19

southeast, but at a height of five thousand feet, as indicated by our barometer, we entered a current more from the southwest, which took us off in northeasterly direction. Nor was it current peculiar to the upper-air region, but a widely extended breeze, setting toward the bay.
 "This fact became too evident to us when we let off gas to descend. For, as we came to within thousand feet, we found the current stronger than it was aloft. Had Burt and I been alone, we should probably have tossed out our grapnels and risked an attept to land but having Mabel with us made it different matter.
 "Ttll never answer,' Burt whis- pered, and he threw over every pound of ballast.
 "Upward we went again, and in twenty five minutes had reached a greater height than before. Our idea was to get out of the southwest wind, into some counter current, and be car ried off north or west of the breeze which was setting toward the bay. We had already gained considerable practical knowledge of the air-cur- rents and their mode of action. In this case we were so far correct in our calculations, that at the height above stated, we found gentle southeasterly current in which we drifted for an hour or more, up toward Gettysburg.
 "But it was now drawing toward night. The necessity of an immediate descent forced itself upon us Again Burt opened the valve and we sank gradually out of the upper current; but at a height of four thousand feet the southwest wind again took us off. As our ballast was now all overheard it was out of our power to ascend again, even had we been so disposed.
 "'Well, we must take our chances Burt said. But, Frank, old boy, if anything should happen to-day there what am I talking about?' he exclaimed and taking the blankets he wrapped them around Mabel and told her to cuddle down in the bottom of the car
 "Give me kiss, Mabe,' he said, as he set her down in the most secure place.
 "'You're not afraid, are you, Mabe?' he continued.
 "'No, isn't 'faid,' she replied, in her pretty, little composed way but l'se cold. What makes us up so high when it's so near night?'
 "'Never mind, little moppet,' said Burt; we shall soon be down now.'
 ''How often have thought of what Burt said, and his way of speaking to me-since!
 "The wind took us steadily north east |; but we kept letting of gas, and were rapidly descending into par tially cleared country, with the blue Chesapeake showing plainly not very far ahead. But as we were now only two thousand feet from the ground, we supposed that we bad country enough to effect q landing.
 We had, however. failed utterly to allow for the strength and velocity of the 'grounder.' At twelve hundred feet we were swept along with great swiftness, and seemed scarcely to sink at all, though stream ofgas was con- stantly leaving the envelopes.
 "Up to that moment I, at least, had not been greatly alarmed but now the danger of our being carried out over the water and coming down into the bay began to look very great. glanced at Burt. He was looking earnestly ahead, but still held the valve open. It seemed the only way.
 "But at eight hundred feet from the ground we were hardly three miles from the shore, and flying along at the mercy of the wind.
 "The crisis rushed upon us in mo- ment, and we saw our fearful mistake.
 "'Burt, we shan't fetch downp I cried.
 "'No,' said he, we must cross the bay, if we can;' and he let the valve close.
 "What followed all came in few seconds.
 Both of us jumped to open the locker, and pitch over the canteens of water, and the bread and tools-then our spare grapnel, and even the blan- hCto iOuuu MAUCl-dIlu tDcu COdtSs but we had already let too much gas go to feel much effect from this. Lower and lower we tended, to where the rutfled sea glittered menacipgly, just ahead.
 "'There's only one thing to be done r Burt exclaimed; and before l fairly comprehended his meaning, he swung down by the lines into the basket of the parachute.
 "'Don't do it, Burtr I cried. The wind is too high.'
 "'Mind the balloon, Frank, and look out for Mabe! P he called back, in firm, clear voice. You're all right to cross the bay now and he pulled l out the knot.